Appetite increase with increase in meds, Latuda and Lamictal

I noticed with one of my recent hospitalizations. They increased my meds and I was starving all the time. Now they are even dosed at a higher level and I am still so hungry all the time. Latuda and Lamictal were increased. Later I added Lithium, but I noticed this before the lithium was added to the mix. What do you think?

I am asking this because my diabetes is worsening and I am trying so hard to get my blood sugar levels under control. But sometimes my appetite wins. It I so hard to fight. I've made an appointment with my primary care doctor and see what she wants to do. But it is not until mid August. I want to take care of myself and I am just so hungry all the time. Denying myself is a fight.

I can't relate to the diabetes, but I'm familiar with the appetite.
I've gained 50 lbs in the past decade. I have difficulty denying myself food. If there is left over pie, I'll clean it up, just so the dishes can be washed. When all I really cared about was filling my face.

Talk to your doc. Maybe there is something you can snack on. But I've never found a snack I liked that didn't have tons of calories or lots of salt. That is why I like watching TV. To H with the shows. All I'm interested in is the advertising of snack food. They make it so inviting.

Don't beat yourself up before you see your doctor. Plan on having a plan after the doctor visit.

Take care,

I wonder if it could be due to the Ambien? Both Latuda and Lamictal are supposed to be weight-neutral...did you start the Ambien in the hospital? That might explain why you've felt hungry since then.

I did take the Ambien at the hospital but now I've stopped it at home for over a month's time.

-- Thu Jul 24, 2014 11:54 am --

skilsaw, my diet is supposed to be 1800 calories. I want more to eat. I think I am just struggling with staying on a diet. But your right I do need to first see the doctor and see what she tells me.

Perhaps the issue is more to do with your blood sugars vs appetite?

This comes from the FDA drug information pamphlet on Latuda: They say to make sure you let your doctor know if you have diabetes before taking Latuda as this can be a side effect:

high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). High blood sugar can happen if you
have diabetes already or if you have never had diabetes. High blood sugar
could lead to:
o build-up of acid in your blood due to ketones (ketoacidosis)
o coma
o death
Increases in blood sugar can happen in some people who take LATUDA.
Extremely high blood sugar can lead to coma or death. If you have diabetes
or risk factors for diabetes (such as being overweight or a family history of
diabetes) your healthcare provider should check your blood sugar before you
start LATUDA and during therapy.

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/Drug ... 362201.pdf

Cheze2, thanks for the info. I'll have to pass it on to both doctors on the next visit.

Add to the mix that, at least when I am in the hypo or generally in uppity-up mood, my body demands anything with high sugar concentration in it. In general I'll eat lots of candy during the state, hardly any otherwise.. I won't even feel hunger otherwise, just something to keep my bloodsugar level up. Candy, bakery products, fruits, sweet drinks.. After few years of experience I've come to conclusion that my mood up-swings require more concentratedenergy reserve to burn..

Far as I know I'm not in risk of having diabetes, although my dad in his late years have had issues regarding bloodsugar levels..

In general I often get suspicious looks and mental health advices of "that's not healthy" when discussing my habits of having 1 warm meal-a-day - if I'm hungry at all, or remember to eat just to have energy next day, otherwise I'd just live with tea&warm meal every other day.. Frankly I'm not sure what my daily intake of calories would be by average, all I know is that my weight has stayed about stable for last 5 years. I still think I could loose some ~10kg - for the record, in comparison my mental health nurse says she sees me "lean".. <.<"

..and I'm sort of off-topic again, aren't I? Thought I had some point when I read this topic.. *Wanders away to nibble a cookie.*

Yes! I've been experiencing the same thing on Lamictal. I also take Lexapro and those two are all I'm on at the moment. But I am starving, even after I am full, I want to eat more. I've only noticed it in the last two months or so, and I've been on Lamictal for about a year now. Granted, I've changed doses here and there, and also recently went off of Adderall. I've gained 35 lbs. in the past year, which I'm partly happy about because I was underweight until now, but my metabolism definitely wasn't the same a year ago.

I looked up Latuda. It does cause weight gain. It also raises triglycerides which is very bad. I have that and I have to do serious exercise to lower it. It also raises blood sugar levels. I've checked myself and they seem to be fine with a good diet, so no problems there. Just putting this info. out there for anyone who was interested. I'm still going to stay on it. The benefits far outweigh the negatives. I can deal with them.

This is an old thread, but maybe someone will be interested, and/or reply.

vintagenoise wrote about increased appetite and weight gain, on » Sun Jul 27, 2014 6:33 pm

"Yes! I've been experiencing the same thing on Lamictal. I also take Lexapro and those two are all I'm on at the moment. But I am starving, even after I am full, I want to eat more. I've only noticed it in the last two months or so, and I've been on Lamictal for about a year now. Granted, I've changed doses here and there, and also recently went off of Adderall. I've gained 35 lbs. in the past year, which I'm partly happy about because I was underweight until now, but my metabolism definitely wasn't the same a year ago."

Those are the two meds I take, also, Lamictal and Lexapro. I started very rapid cycling, all day long, so my pdoc upped the lamictal from 150 to 200 and now to 250 mg. I was fine with my weight and appetite till the latest increase. Since the 250 mg about 3 weeks ago, I've been eating a LOT of sugary things. Lots of it -- I'll spare you unfortunate appetite increased people the long delicious list. Let's just say a couple of weeks ago I had 5 desserts. It's not really just about being hungry after eating. It's like I HAVE to have something sweet after every meal. It's not like me. But in the past, I HAVE been successful at losing weight by cutting out what I call ALL recreational sugar. That means I can put a small dab of brown sugar on my oatmeal, and that's about it. I eat a lot of sweet fruits, rather than sugar and candy, etc. I'd also cut out all recreational fat, too. One thing I can't cut out now, though, is peanut butter and jelly sandwiches when I go out on the bus past lunchtime. The cost of living has gone up so much, and Social Security had NO cost of living increase this year -- for the third time in about 5 years -- and only $15 for 2015, when my rent alone went up $87, my budget is so tight I can't afford to eat out anymore. It was with shock that I added up all my eating out last month -- it cost me over $85!!! Terrible of me, so this month I'm trying to limit eating out to $20 but it will probably be $25. That means I take a sandwich for lunches, rather than eating out. Thanks for reading this! If anyone has any remedies for this appetite increase, please respond!! I'm going to star t drinking much more water than I have been. Maybe that will help curb my appetite.